In a special session of the George West City Council on Feb. 27, the council passed a resolution establishing a permit fee for customer service inspection for new construction in the amount of $75.

The city previously did not have a fee established for the inspection.

In another resolution the council also raised the prices for several other service items including raising fees for meter and tap instillation, gas fusion and sewage disposal.

The fees were raised because it was costing the city more to provide the services than they were making. With the higher fees the city will make a small profit.

The fees for the meter and tap instillation will very depending on the size of the line than is being put in.

The board also heard a presentation from LNV engineer, Eric Villareal, on the recent bid that was put out for street maintenance projects.

Villareal told the board that he had received three bids for the project with the lowest being from J. Carroll Weaver out of Sinton for more than $150,000 less than the other two bidders.

The total amount of the bid is $371,428.12 and includes work on Houston Street, Bowie Street, Frio Street, Burleson, Leona, Lamar, Zapata, Brazos and Ross. The work will vary by street with some of the more major repairs being one course surface treatment and level up.

“Does that raise a red flag to you guys?” Council member Chuck Pawelek asked the council about the price being so much less than the other bidders.

“The cost doesn’t raise a red flag for me because I have worked with them before and they have done a good job,” Villareal assured the board.

He also told the board with the money they saved they could hire an on site construction observer (inspector) to check the work of J. Carroll Weaver if that would ease their minds.

The board agreed that they wanted Villareal to get a quote for a full time inspector.

“Off the top of my head it would be about $6,000,” Villareal said.

The board appeared to be pleased with that number considering that originally they had estimated that street repairs would cost closer to half a million dollars.

City Manager Sandra Martinez said the mid-March to early April at the latest and will take no longer than 60 days.

In other items the council approved an agreement with Pilot Flying J Truck Center. The agreement was part of the Texas Capital Fund and was needed for the city to get the granted needed to perform some of the work.